Synthetic surfactant flakes and process for making them

A process for making improved surfactant flakes from a water-wet paste which is dried on a heated roll drum dryer comprising the steps of:

• A. Forming a 25.degree. C. to 95.degree. C. water-wet paste containing:
• (a) From 20% to 30% of an alkali metal C.sub.9 -C.sub.15 alkyl sulfate;
• (b) From 20% to 30% of an alkali metal C.sub.9 -C.sub.15 alkyl benzene sulfonate, wherein said (a) and (b) have a weight ratio of 1:1.5 to 1.5:1;
• (c) From 0.5% to 10% of a water-soluble inorganic salt;
• and
• (d) The balance water;
• B. Forming heat dried flakes from said paste on said heated roll drum dryer, said flakes having a thickness of 0.1 mm to 1.3 mm and a moisture content of up to about 1.2%;
• C. Cooling the flakes to about ambient temperature in a controlled environment having a dewpoint of less than about 10.degree. C.;
• wherein said improved surfactant flakes can carry a larger amount of perfume in a firm cake than a comparable cake made from flakes cooled above said dewpoint;
• and wherein said firm cake contains from 5% to 20% perfume.